SOUTHPORT’s British Musical Fireworks Championships crowned the “champion of champions” last night after a spectacular pyrotechnic weekend.

The competition pitted the seven previous winners of the title against each other to find the ultimate display maestro.

Jubilee Fireworks picked up the award after painting the night skies with a display choreographed to the music of Andrea Bocelli, among others.

An onlooker said “it was worthy of a Vegas show – absolutely fabulous”.

The West Midlands-based company won the inaugural competition in 1999. They were the first of two displays last night and impressed the judges with the sheer scale of their work.

Each competitor was given an 18-minute slot to wow crowds by putting flashes, bangs and dancing flames to music. The weekend’s music included rock, pop, classic and rap.

Pete Sandman, Sefton Council’s events manager, said: “It was really tight, they were all really good displays.

“They did a lot of low-level stuff this year – one even had fire skating across the Marine Lake.”

Mr Sandman said last night’s crowd was around 15,000 and estimated another 15,000 would have watched from around the resort.